England won’t just be looking to end a sequence of 10 Tests without a win when they face India in the third Test at Southampton today, they will be aiming to restore their injured pride.
Monday’s 95-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s, a result that put the tourists 1-0 up in the five-match series, came after England had won the toss on a pitch that might have been made to captain Alastair Cook’s specific instructions and against an India side who had not won away from home in 16 previous Tests.
Whether it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling like a classic seamer or opener Murali Vijay’s invaluable second-innings 95, India excelled in disciplines that were once common to every county, let alone England, team.
